Ramblings from my pages… #8

Welcome to the eighth instalment of Ramblings from my pages… This post was inspired byIt’s Book Talk’s“5 on Friday: Things I’m Loving Lately” – it differs slightly, similar in that it will feature bookish and non-bookish topics, but different in that I will ramble about things I’m loving, hating, wishing for, links I’ve enjoyed, life updates – you name it, I may just ramble about it. The only staple feature of this post will be concluding it with a link I found around the web.

As you’ve probably noticed, my blogging engagement has been seriously lacking these past few weeks, I even skipped this post last week (sorry! I worked last weekend). Even as this post goes live, I’m at work, 7am – 9pm, your condolences for my loss of a Sunday are appreciated, haha! So basically, work and essays have been kicking my ass, so I’ve had little time for the blogosphere. I try to stay as active on Instagram as possible as you all know I love it, but I even had days of inaction there. I just wanted to let you all know, that I’ll read, share, and interact as much as possible, but it may be delayed or limited, and I hope you’ll bare with me.

As for reading, It’s happening but at a slower rate. I haven’t even started on my Nonfiction TBR yet, so I may have to do Nonfiction December instead. Although I have listened to We’re Going to Need More Wine by Gabrielle Union, and I’m currently listening to I Can’t Make This Up: Life Lessons by Kevin Hart. I think Trevor Noah’s autobiography was the start of something because I’ve got so many autobiographies lined up to listen to, and I love that they are all narrated by the author. If you’ve ever watched a Kevin Hart film or stand up comedy show, you can image how entertaining listening to him narrate his book is! My next audio pick is: Around the Way Girl: A Memoir by Taraji P. Henson. Do you enjoy reading/listening to celebrity autobiographies?

Guess what, I am officially blog tour free! And I feel the pressure has lessened already! Now I can focus on catching up on the review copies I have, because I’m so behind. That’s not to say I won’t accept any blog tours in the future but for now, I’m taking a break. I do have a few Instagram tours coming up, but they’re cool because the preparation time to post is so much shorter, and right now, my bookish time it limited. The next step in getting on top of my reading is to get these review copies to a manageable amount, which will be my focus for next year.

BOOKS THAT MATTER

Books That Matter is a UK-based subscription box that I purchased for the last two months. I really like this box because I think it’s good value for money and a nice treat each month. The box is £12, plus £3 for postage and packaging [within the UK]. The curators of this box have a real eye for talent, both of the books I’ve received have such gorgeous covers. October was a black history month special, and the book was Washington Blackby Esi Edugyan, and this months book was Belongingby Umi Sinha – I hadn’t heard of the book before, but it’s definitely one I will read. You also get two gifts to accompany the book, nothing major, just little extras.

I’m looking forward to December’s box because it is a nonfiction book that is on my wishlist and the box is coming with five gifts! The book isn’t always announced ahead of time, but it was for December so people could purchase the box as a Christmas gift for others knowing ahead of time what the box was. I won’t share it here yet, in case anyone has subscribed and is avoiding spoilers.

I have been impressed with the book choices from this box, I think I’m going to treat myself to a three month subscription. I love the packaging/box, the extras, and the books – true to its name, they are books that matter! Visit Books That Matters website, or check out their Instagram.

THE GIRL WHO LIVED TWICE

You may have seen all over social media this week the cover reveal for the next book in the Millennium series – The Girl Who Lived Twiceby David Largercrantz, continuing Stieg Larsdson’s Millennium trilogy.

“I WILL NOT BE THE HUNTED – I WILL BE THE HUNTER”

I’m so excited for this book, I love the star of this series, Lisbeth Salander, and this is one of my favourite series! I even love the films, the Swedish originals, not the American remakes! So this is now my most highly anticipated release of 2019! Have you read this series, seen the films, are you as excited as I am?

HQ CRIME FICTION SHOWCASE

This past Monday I attended the HQ Crime Fiction Showcase, they had 26 authors in attendance and it was a lovely evening. Made all the more special because I went to lunch beforehand, and attended the event, with Kerrie @ I Loved Reading This, and Clair @ Always Need More Books. Let me tell you, these two ladies are amazing, I had such a fab time, we have so much in common, it’s a great feeling when you meet book friends in real life after talking for months prior. I see many meet ups in our future!

As for the event itself, the authors in attendance and the HQ staff were so friendly, as any bookworm will know, it’s a joy to talk books all evening with likeminded people! The highlight of my evening was meeting author Kerry Barnes, she’s the author of several gangland fiction titles, and she’s such a lovely, down to earth person! I don’t usually rave over signed books, because although signed, they are still generic (if that makes sense?), but when it’s personalised, written by the author, just for you, that’s special!

Basically the author of this article is throwing shade all over Bookstagram, particularly those who take gorgeous photos of themselves on a background of open books. I just don’t understand the point of the article, because books are art, designed to be read, but art is to be appreciated, so doesn’t that say something about someone’s love of art, that they want to use it above and beyond it’s original purpose. Open book, closed book, spines on display, I don’t care, I want to see a photo of it, this is a fucking awesome new trend and I hope it continues for many years to come! What do you think, did you see the article?

I hope you enjoyed reading this post as much as I enjoyed writing it, and you’ll join me next Sunday for some more ramblings.

If you missed my last rambling you can find it here– topics: Worry Dolls (an anxiety tool), Nonfiction November, How Long ’til Black Future Month? and Jussie Smollett.

I did, it was a lovely evening, but I won’t do a full post on it. It was a different kind of event from Quercus in that it was more an author ‘meet and greet’ so I was busy chatting away all evening. But I am going to an Orion event later this month, so maybe for that one 🙂

Kevin Hart is amazing, just as engaging as Noah in his narration style. I’ve seen Kevin Hart’s stand up comedy live and I love how some of the content he talks about in this book is also the content he used for his jokes on stage.

I love all these nifty book subscription boxes you find! And I’m very excited for your Nonfiction December and all your memoirs 🙂 I hope your busy schedule is manageable and you find time to relax too!

I’ll never give up the hunt for the perfect book box, haha, this one wins on price! I’m in a memoir nonfiction bubble at the moment, and I love it! What I need to do is start writing some reviews! It’s busy in the run up to Christmas but things should settle down soon. I’m looking forward to completing this course, these essays are the most time consuming!

I didn’t see the Instagram post Janel but I am intrigued. 🤔 Personally, I admire ANYONE who gets a bit creative with their bookstagram and I will always love checking out what people are coming up with. Some people just love to hate! 🙄